Mary and the Palm

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Mary Beekman is a four-year-old ghost who resides in The Beekman Mansion, and considers Brent and Josh her "imaginary friends." Follow Mary Beekman's Diary each week to learn what it's like to be a young child in early 19th century America

Nell and her Mother and Grandmother visited us at home today.  Nell's grandmother came outside to be with Nell and me when were were playing with our rag dollies.  We like to have her be with us because she tells us stories about so many things.  She sat in between us and we each held a hand while she was speaking.  I have to be still and listen carefully because her voice is not loud. Her hands are soft.  Sometimes I have to look down at our hands to make certain we are touching because they are so very soft.  Even Mother's hands are not like that.  When Nell's grandmother smoothes my hair behind my ear, it feels almost as thought a feather had tucked my hair in place.

I like to gently trail my fingers over the back of her hand.  There are dark blue cords that feel like round ridges that the tips of my fingers have to slide over.  My hand don't seem to have them……I looked.  She told us they were veins.  I do not know what veins are.  I will ask Brent.  On the other side of her hand there are many lines.  She told us stories about the lines in our hands.  One is called a heart line and is near the base of the fingers.  She said it appears Nell and I would find good husbands.  There is a head line too.  This line begins at the base of the finger after the thumb and goes to the outside of the palm.  She thought I would be a smart girl and read many books.  I would like to WRITE a book.  Nell will be very clever and  artistic.  Nell can draw better than I can already. She draws very good flowers.

The last line she told us about was the life line.  I think that line went from the edge of the palm above the thumb and travels in an arc towards the wrist.  Right now Nell and i do not have very big life lines.  Nell's grandmother said they will get longer as we grow older.  She is very old and her hand is not very big.  I think Nell and I will live to be very old too.  We will always be good friends and live near each other.  I just know we will.  We can tell our children about the stories in their hands too.  I hope I can remember to show Josh and Brent about their hands.